WISE - - Entering its fourth year of play, the women's lacrosse program at UVa-Wise has its sights set on its first conference title when the 2018 season begins Sunday. Head Coach Meghan Dennehy's team returns 14 players from last season, including three-time All-MEC First-Team performer Hannah Marshall, reigning MEC Defensive Player of the Year Mel Reilly and reigning MEC Freshman of the Year Jesse French.
After finishing second in 2017, UVa-Wise has been picked to finish second once again in 2018. The Cavaliers have beefed up their out of conference schedule, facing a pair of preseason top ten teams in No. 7 Queens University (N.C.) and No. 9 Regis University (Colo.) prior to the start of league play.
"We've made an effort to go and out and play a tougher schedule," remarked Dennehy. "We feel these tough out of conference games will help us make a run at the conference title."
To make a run, Dennehy's club will rely heavily on its senior class that has seen the program evolve from its infancy to a title contender.
Marshall is coming off a career year as a junior. The midfielder posted career-high numbers in goals (29), assists (10), points (39), groundballs (44), draw controls (41) and caused turnovers (27). The Atlanta native has improved her attack skills for 2018 after netting a league best three game-winning goals a season ago.
At goalie, Reilly earned Defensive Player of the Year honors as a junior. The Chesapeake, Va. native led the league in goals against average (9.55) while also posting a league leading save percentage (.494) to add All-MEC First-Team status to her resume.
UVa-Wise will also have three-year letter winner Annie Hanson returning at midfield. One of the team's hardest workers, the Fairfax, Va. product is known for her ability to get things accomplished that don't show up in the box score. Last season, Hanson started in all 17 games while tallying 20 points and 26 groundballs.
Seniors Lauren Donahue (Stafford, Va.) and Amber Brown (Warrenton, Va.) are ready for their final collegiate season. A team captain, Donahue started all 17 games for Dennehy as a junior and is regarded as not only a team leader on defense but, one of the MEC's top defenders. Last season, Donahue took home All-MEC First-Team honors and has been selected as a team captain for 2018.
Brown will battle for playing time and is known for her ability to get deflections.
Team captain Rachel Cole (Flower Mound, Texas) rounds out the group of six seniors. The attacker was named to the MEC All-Tournament Team as a junior after posting a goal and seven draw controls in UVa-Wise's semifinal contest against Wheeling Jesuit. The team leader in draw controls with 51 in 2017, Cole looks to be more active on the offensive end as a senior. Regarded as the heart of the team, she brings out her teammates' strengths.
Juniors Sydney Steinberg, McKayla Grasham and Jessica Apgar earned All-MEC Second-Team honors as sophomores while fellow junior Kristin Gobbi took home All-MEC Honorable Mention acclaim last season.
Steinberg (Gainesville, Fla.) led the league at two assists per game while adding 23 goals to finish with a team-leading 55 points as a sophomore. Grasham (Baltimore) tallied 19 goals, five assists, 22 groundballs and 34 draw controls while adding five multi-point games en route to her all-conference honor while Apgar (Elliston, Va.) led the team and ranked third in the league in groundballs per game at 2.88. Additionally, Apgar has been named a team captain for 2018.
Gobbi (Haymarket, Va.) produced 10 multi-goal games, including a pair of six goal games to finish second on the team in goals per game at 2.0.
French (Dumfries, Va.) made an immediate impact in her inaugural collegiate season. In addition to her Freshman of the Year honor, she earned All-MEC Second-Team acclaim as the attacker led the Cavs with 39 goals and ranked fifth in the conference in goals per game (2.44). French also came up big in the clutch, tying teammate Marshall for the league lead in game-winning goals with three. Named a team captain, Dennehy looks for French to be more active on draws while repeating as an all-league performer.
Ashley Wells (Purcellville, Va.) should see significant minutes as a sophomore. The attacker/midfielder is an improved feeder and scorer whose skillset should pay dividends for the club this spring.
According to her coaches, Abby Willis (Midlothian, Va.) has improved and will see increased minutes on defense. Last season, Willis played in 15 games with 13 starts while averaging a groundball per game.
Elsa Girardo (Alexandria, Va.) will provide depth at the goalie position. The sophomore is recovered from injury and is great at clearing.
Carly Coyle (Midlothian) is listed as a redshirt freshman on the roster and will see her first collegiate action this spring.
Newcomers to the team include freshmen attackers Samantha Hill and Arienna Newman. Hill (Norfolk, Va.) is sneaky quick with her shot and looks to see action while Newman is a good dodger who will compete for playing time.
Midfielder/defender Riley Fenster (Middlebury, Vt.) has made an impression as a hard worker who should see time as a freshman while defender Charlotte Hess (Trabuco Canyon, Calif.) should compete for a starting spot. Erin Smith (Fredericksburg, Va.) looks to use her intensity to boost the team while goalie Adia Best (Orlando, Fla.) will be in the mix for the second goalie position.
UVa-Wise will play 10 home games at Carl Smith Stadium beginning Sunday at 2 p.m. when Catawba College visits Wise. It will be the first of two home games to start the year as the Cavs welcome Tusculum College on Feb. 21 before heading to Colorado for a trio of games to wrap up the month.
Conference play begins on April 13 when Wheeling Jesuit comes to town for what figures to be a pivotal contest in the league standings, the Cardinals were tabbed as preseason league favorites.
For more information on the women's lacrosse program, or any of the 13 sports offered by the College, please visit www.uvawisecavs.com
